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Mars & Avril
Film poster (French)
FrenchMars et Avril
Directed byMartin Villeneuve
Written byMartin Villeneuve
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBenoît Beaulieu
Edited byMathieu Demers
Music byBenoît Charest
Production
companies
  • Mars et Avril Inc.
  • EMAFilms
  • Les Productions du 8e Art
  • Item 7
Distributed byAlliance Vivafilm(Canada)
Gaiam(U.S.)
Release dates
  • 2 July 2012(2012-07-02)(KVFF)
  • 15 September 2012(2012-09-15)(AFF,Canada)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageFrench
Budget$2.3 million

Mars & Avril(French:Mars et Avril) is a 2012 Canadianscience fiction filmstarringJacques Languirand,Caroline Dhavernas,Paul AhmaraniandRobert Lepage.The movie, based on the photo-novels of the same name published by Sid Lee & la Pastèque,[1][2][3][4]is written, produced and directed byMartin Villeneuve.[5]

The film was shot on a budget of C$2.3 million and featured numerous green screen effects.Belgiancomic book artistFrançois Schuitenis the production designer, formerILMSenior Compositor Carlos Monzon worked as VFX supervisor, andBenoît Charestcomposed the original score.[6]The film was financed by Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Les Productions du 8e Art and the Harold Greenberg Fund, and is distributed in Canada byAlliance Vivafilm(now owned byeOne) and in the United States byGaiam.The official trailer was released in Quebec theatres and on Alliance Vivafilm's YouTube channel on 21 December 2011.

The world premiere took place on 2 July 2012 at the 47thKarlovy Vary International Film Festival,Czech Republic(the film was selected in the section "Another View" for its unique artistic approach in both form and content).[7]Since then, the film has been screened in twenty other major cinema events around the globe and has received 10 nominations.[8]Martin Villeneuve was nominated for "Best Adapted Screenplay" at the 2013Canadian Screen Awards,and he also won an "Imaging the Future Award" at theNeuchâtel International Fantasy Film Festivalin Switzerland. In addition, Villeneuve gave a TED Talk about his film atTED2013in Long Beach,California.[9]

Synopsis

[edit]

InMontréal,in the near future, humanity is about to set foot onMars.Jacob Obus (Jacques Languirand), a charismatic musician, takes pride in slowing down time by playing instruments inspired by women's bodies, designed by his friend, Arthur (Paul Ahmarani). A love triangle develops when Jacob and Arthur both fall in love with Avril (Caroline Dhavernas), a young photographer. Enter Eugène Spaak (Robert Lepage), inventor, cosmologist and Arthur's father, who unveils a new theory about man's desire to reach Mars and helps Jacob find the true meaning of life and love.

Jacques Languirand

Cast

[edit]
Caroline Dhavernas

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

In 2005,Robert Lepageoptioned the rights toMartin Villeneuve'sMars et Avrilphoto novels through his Quebec city-based motion picture company, Films Ex æquo (who had already producedThe Far Side of the Moonin 2003), with the intent of adapting them into a science fiction feature film. While Villeneuve was to write the script, Lepage was attached to the project as producer and as an actor.[10]A year later, Lepage shut down Films Ex æquo.[11]Nevertheless, he strongly encouraged Villeneuve to produce and direct the film himself.[12]Villeneuve took over the project, while Lepage remained involved as an actor and creative producer.[5]

In 2008, SODEC, Telefilm Canada, The Harold Greenberg Fund and Alliance Vivafilm decided to finance the production.

Due to the film's significant amount of visual effects, an extensive year of pre-production was necessary. In pre-production, Schuiten made some sketches of the sets and, in post-production, he oversaw the visual coherence of the whole film while acting as art direction consultant.[13]Since the film was to be shot almost entirely on green screen, in only 25 days and on a very tight budget of C$2.3 million, preparation was key to making it work. The 1200 shots were hand-drawn asstoryboardsand then edited with the dialogues in a detailed, two-hour-longanimaticthat mapped out every detail before shooting.[14]Villeneuve went toBrusselsin May 2008 to work with Schuiten, then Schuiten came toMontrealtwice to follow up: in September 2008 and December 2011. Throughout filming and post-production, the two men touch-based as often as they could throughSkype.[15]Abrainstormingsession between Villeneuve and Schuiten is available as the audio commentary on the DVD.[16]

Design

[edit]

In 2007, Villeneuve contacted famed Belgian comic book artistFrançois Schuiten,who accepted the position of production designer.[17]Schuiten had already worked on such films asToto le Héros,The Golden CompassandMr. Nobody.[17]The filmmaker wanted the source of his inspiration to play a direct role in the creation of the film rather than try to mimic his style.[15]For a scene taking place inside the Temple of Cosmologists, Schuiten agreed to have a 3D model made of the futuristic auditorium fromFever in Urbicand,a volume in hisLes Cités Obscuresseries. Villeneuve had this image in mind when writing the photo novel. For the shooting of this scene, extras were chosen who looked like the characters from Schuiten's graphic novel.[18]

Villeneuve could not afford to have the imaginary musical instruments used in the film built, so he went toCirque du SoleilCEOGuy Lalibertéand convinced him to buy them before they were even made.[19]When Laliberté saw Villeneuve's TED Talk on 7 June 2013, he offered the filmmaker the "Gravophone" which is seen in the talk.[20]Laliberté has thereby financed the creation of the instruments sculpted by artist Dominique Engel.[9]

Casting

[edit]

Most of the actors who appeared in the photo novels (most notablyJacques Languirand,Robert Lepage,Paul AhmaraniandStéphane Demers) reprised their roles in the film, with the exception ofMarie-Josée Croze(who portrayed the lead female character in the books), due to a schedule conflict.Caroline Dhavernas,who along with Croze was a roommate of Villeneuve during his college years,[21]was then hired to play the part of Avril.[19]Her motherMichèle Deslauriers,provided the Montreal Teleportation Service's voice in the film (she is also the voice of the real life metro service).[22]

Filming

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Principal photography

[edit]

The film was almost entirely shot on green screen, in 25 days, using the RED digital camera.[23]

SinceRobert Lepageonly had a few days available for filming, Villeneuve turned his character into a hologram and had another actor wearing a green hood stand in for his scenes during principal photography.[24]An avant-garde 3D capturing technique was used to integrate him virtually into his scenes as a hologram. Six cameras were trained on Lepage's head while a mime, Jean Asselin, portrayed the body.[25]The character became acosmologistwhose research intovirtual technologieshas extended to bold experiments on himself. His head is actually ahologram,with all of his ideas, memories and thoughts stored electronically.[26][27][28]Additionally, in order to work around Lepage's extremely tight schedule, principal photography took place inMontrealin two segments; the first was in September 2008, and the second in April 2009.[29]

This was radio hostJacques Languirand's first leading role in a feature film. Nearly 80 years old at the time, and being hard of hearing, he wore an ear-piece so that his wife, Nicole Dumais, could feed him his lines off set.[30]When performing on the stage of the Liquid Pub with the band of old musicians played by Marcel Sabourin, André Montmorency and Gabriel Gascon, all cultural icons of Quebec like himself, they received a standing ovation from the 50 extras present during the shooting that lasted several minutes. The first assistant director had to stop the applause so as not fall behind schedule.[20]

The Martian backgrounds were taken by photographer Denis McCready in theMojave Desertusing a panoramic film camera. The exact location is nearTrona Pinnacleswhere several sci-fi movies and TV series were filmed includingBattlestar Galactica,Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,The Gate II,Lost in SpaceandPlanet of the Apes.[20]

The scene where Jacob and Arthur are leaving for Mars is inspired by one of Villeneuve's childhood memories: when he was 4 or 5 years old, his older brothers (includingDenis Villeneuve) put him in a box and made him believe that he made a space travel on his way to Mars.[31][32]

Editing

[edit]

By the end of 2009, the editing of a first cut was assembled. In 2010, Martin Villeneuve searched for new investments in order to complete the 550 VFX shots involved in the film.[21]In early 2011,Anne-Marie Gélinasand Benoît Beaulieu joined Villeneuve as producers.[33]Telefilm Canada and Alliance Vivafilm both accepted to raise their initial investment, and so did Robert Lepage and Lynda Beaulieu though their new Quebec city-based motion picture company, Les Productions du 8e Art. At this point,Pierre EvenandMarie-Claude Poulinfrom Item 7 also joined the team as executive producers.[34]

Re-shoot

[edit]

In March 2011, exactly two years after principal photography was completed, a re-shoot took place at Lepage's request. The scene in which Jacob and Avril make love was shot in Languirand's actual bedroom. The final cut of the film was completed during the summer of the same year.[35]Montreal-based post-production company Vision Globale (under the supervision of formerILMSenior Compositor Carlos Monzon) then started the visual effects and sound design.

Music

[edit]

Benoît Charestwas tasked with scoring the music.[36]Charest's score was composed according toJohannes Kepler's cosmological theory,Harmonices Mundi,in which the harmony of the universe is determined by the motion of celestial bodies, referenced in the film's opening voiced byRobert Lepage.[37][38]

[edit]

The official trailer[39]was released in Quebec theatres and on Alliance Vivafilm's YouTube channel on 21 December 2011.[40]The official poster,[41]designed byFrançois Schuiten,was revealed online on 11 March 2012, once the film was entirely completed.[18]

The first in a series of production videos unveiling the film's creation was released online 16 August 2012. A 22-minute "Making of" was aired onARTVin October 2012 in order to promote the release of the film, and is now availablewith English subtitlesonVimeo.[42]

TED Talk

[edit]

On 27 February 2013,Martin Villeneuvegave a TED Talk[9]aboutMars et AvrilatTED2013,[43][24]thereby becoming the very first French Canadian speaker invited to this prestigious event that took place inLong Beach, California.[44][45]Prior to his talk, the opening sequence of the film was shown,[37]as well as a three minute overview[46]of the steps leading from the green screen to the final images.[47][48][49]Martin Villeneuve's talk, "How I made an impossible film," was released on TED on 7 June 2013, and a month later was added to TED's movie magic list, featuring famed directors such asJames CameronandJ. J. Abrams.[50]The talk has been viewed more than a million times across all platforms and subtitled in 30 languages. Since then,Mars et Avrilhas been referred to as the "Impossible Film".[51][52]

Release

[edit]

The world premiere took place on 2 July 2012 at the 47thKarlovy Vary International Film Festivalin theCzech Republic(the film was selected in the section "Another View" for its "unique" artistic approach in both form and content).[7]In Canada, the film was first shown at theAtlantic Film FestivalinHalifax, Nova Scotiaon 15 September 2012.Mars et Avrilwas given a theatrical release in Quebec on 12 October 2012.[53][54]

Festivals

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Distribution

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Domestic home media, streaming, and soundtrack

[edit]

The DVD of the film[16]as well as the digital version on iTunes[62]were released in Canada throughAlliance Vivafilmon 19 March 2013,[63][64]along withBenoît Charest's original soundtrack and the trailer music composed byRamachandra Borcar.[65]Following Charest'sFélixwin of Album of the Year on 22 October 2013 at theADISQGala, a limited edition of 300 vinyl records were released by Simone Records as a nod to the retro-futuristic look of the film.[66]

International distribution

[edit]

In September 2013,Mars et Avrilwas sold to the U.S. and is now available on Amazon,[67]on iTunes,[68]on Google Play[69]and onGaiamTV.[70][71]The film is also available on iTunes in the UK, and all across Francophone Europe, among other digital platforms.[72]

Reception

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Critical response

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A trippy science fiction fable about the musicality of the universe that's set in Montreal and on the Red Planet, the sumptuously designedMars et Avrilis certainly one of a kind. (…) Sans rousing battle or action sequences, the film is that rare sci-fi spectacle that foregrounds elements other than Manichean ideas of good and evil — in this case romance, music and philosophizing about the universe. (…) Shot on a tight budget and with abundant use of green screen, the world Villeneuve puts onscreen nonetheless feels whole and, in the sci-fi context, credible.

—Boyd van Hoeij, in his review forVariety[6]

Mars et Avrilreceived generally positive reviews after its release in Quebec.[73][22][74][75]The film also received mostly positive reviews upon its release in the international festival circuit, starting with a world premiere inKarlovy Vary.[71][6][76][77]Brendan Kelly fromThe Gazettegave it 4.5 stars out of 5 and called it "light-hearted and inspired!" He wrote: "There's a sly wit at work here — that's one of the reasons I so likedMars et Avril.It doesn't take itself too seriously while tackling some pretty weighty themes, like the nature of inspiration, the relationship between love and sensuality and the notion of how music can set you free. (…) An extraordinary universe that's remarkably inventive and impossible to forget. "[22]Mark Adams fromScreen Dailywas also quite enthusiastic, and described the settings as a "stunning futuristic Montreal, lovingly produced via the special effects, creating an unworldly and dreamy future city that fits perfectly with the graphic novel style." But Adams also noted that "the audience for the film will be relatively niche. This type of esoteric sci-fi — such asEnki Bilal's 2004 filmImmortal (Ad Vitam)— works well in France and with fans of comics anthologyMetal Hurlantand similar graphic novels, but rarely breaks out into the mainstream. "[76]

Online reviews also praised the film. Writing forTwitch Film,Shelagh M. Rowan-Legg claimed that it "deserves greater attention", adding: "Oh, what a wonderful, rich, glorious treat of a filmMars et Avrilis. A sci-fi steam-punk romance with a terrific score, it is a delight to the senses. Visually stunning, melodramatic in its storytelling, and unafraid to delve into deep philosophical musings. "[55]Esther Inglis-Arkell from sci-fi authorityio9gave it her two thumbs up: "Mars et Avrilis a movie that will surprise you. It has to, as every time it seems to go one way, it will twist off in a new direction. It will also give your eyes a good time (…) It looks beautiful and it looks different. This movie took seven years to make and inspired a TED talk about how to make an 'impossible' film. It's also one of the most beautiful, and immersive, science fiction worlds on film. "[71]Jay Seaver fromefilmcriticcalled it a "thoroughly funky French-Canadian sci-fi!", and wrote: "All of this put together is a small, colorful delight – the funny bits come and go quickly enough to get their chuckles and not wear out their welcome, the whole thing is pretty, and the story that eventually gets told has some heft to it without ever losing sight of the film's goal of being entertaining."[78]

Accolades

[edit]
Awards
  • 11 February 2013:BostonSci-Fi Film Festival, United States – Honorable mention for "incredible post-production work".[72]
  • 9 July 2013:Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival,Switzerland (international competition) – Imaging the Future Award.
  • 22 October 2013: Benoît Charest won theFélixin the category "Album of the year – original soundtrack" at theADISQGala.[66]
Nominations

References

[edit]
  1. ^Mars et Avrilleaps off the pages of graphic novels,article from BULB
  2. ^Mars et Avril:the precarious jump from Graphic Novel to Cinema,article from UCalgaryBlogs.ca, 8 April 2013
  3. ^Exclusive look at Canadian scifi film MARS ET AVRIL a graphic novel adaptation,article from Quiet Earth, 4 April 2011
  4. ^Martin Villeneuve – Graphic Novels Interviews (2002-2004)on Vimeo
  5. ^abDenis Villeneuve's brother Martin imagines future Montreal with 'Mars et Avril',article fromCanadian Press,26 October 2011
  6. ^abcMars and April//Mars & Avril,review fromVariety,16 July 2012
  7. ^abStunning Canadian sci-fi flick MARS ET AVRIL premiering at Karlovy Vary,article from Quiet Earth, 16 June 2012
  8. ^Mars et AvrilAwards & Nominations page on IMDb
  9. ^abc"Martin Villeneuve: How I made an impossible film",TED, 7 June 2013
  10. ^Du papier glacé au grand écran,article fromLe Devoir,17 October 2006
  11. ^Robert Lepage ferme sa boîte de production Ex aequo,article fromLe Devoir,8 July 2006
  12. ^Amour et science-fiction,article fromLe Journal de Montréal,6 October 2012
  13. ^Entrevue exclusive avec Martin Villeneuve,Z-télé, 11 October 2012
  14. ^Whistler Film Festival 2012 Interview -Mars & Avrildirector Martin Villeneuve,eFilmCritic, 1 December 2012
  15. ^abFrançois Schuiten: The Watchmaker of Dreams,Martin Villeneuve's BULB page, 2 December 2013
  16. ^abMars et AvrilDVD on Amazon Canada,19 March 2013
  17. ^abVoyage à travers le Montréal de demain,article fromLa Presse,8 December 2011
  18. ^abMars et Avrilon Alta-Plana
  19. ^ab"Mars et Avrilleaps off the page ",article fromThe Gazette,5 October 2012
  20. ^abcTrivia & Fun facts about the film,BULB, 2 December 2013
  21. ^abMartin Villeneuve: l'ambition de la science-fiction,article fromLe Nouvelliste,21 January 2012
  22. ^abcAn unforgettable ride through a futuristic Montreal,review fromThe Gazette,12 October 2012
  23. ^Martin Villeneuve talks MARS ET AVRIL + English subbed trailer!,article from Quiet Earth, 16 February 2012
  24. ^abA sci-fi film with a $2 million budget: Martin Villeneuve at TED2013,article from the official TED Blog, 27 February 2013
  25. ^Robert Lepage de retour au cinéma,article fromLe Journal de Montréal,13 October 2012
  26. ^Cronenberg's son Brandon, Villeneuve's brother Martin debut in 2012,article fromCanadian Press,30 December 2011
  27. ^Robert Lepage: L'homme-orchestre, article fromFrance-Amérique,October 2012
  28. ^Robert Lepage projeté dans l'avenir,article fromLa Presse,11 October 2012
  29. ^Jacques Languirand dans l'espace,article fromLa Presse,29 April 2011
  30. ^The 'Mars & Avril' Experience (22-minute Making Of) on Vimeo,2013
  31. ^Mars et Avril– Interviews (2011-2013)on Vimeo
  32. ^Mission accomplieInterview with Martin Villeneuve onBouillant de culture,4 February 2012
  33. ^On me disait que c'était impossible,article fromQui fait Quoi,31 January 2012
  34. ^Mars et Avrilsortira en 2012[usurped],article fromLe Journal de Montréal,29 April 2011
  35. ^Mars et Avrilselon Caroline Dhavernas,article from Cineplex Magazine, October 2012
  36. ^Le pari fou de Martin Villeneuve,article fromLe Journal de Montréal,9 February 2012
  37. ^abMars et Avril– Opening Sequence,on Vimeo
  38. ^Science-fiction romantique,article fromLa Presse,6 October 2012
  39. ^Mars et Avril– Trailer in HDon Vimeo
  40. ^Breathtaking trailer for a movie about the only man who doesn't want to go live on Mars,article fromio9,22 December 2011
  41. ^Mars et Avril- Theatrical Movie Posteron IMP Awards
  42. ^Dazzling Other-Worldly New Sci-Fi Fantasy Film,Mars et Avril,The Impossible Movie Debuts Exclusively On Gaiam TV,article from emag.co.uk, 8 January 2014
  43. ^10 jaw-dropping images from the film "Mars et Avril," and how the magic was created,article from the official TED Blog, 7 June 2013
  44. ^Quebec's first TED Talk,article from Cult Montreal, 7 June 2013
  45. ^CBC C'est La Vie "Quebec filmmaker gives a TED Talk"
  46. ^Mars et Avril– Creating the Visual Effects (TED2013)on Vimeo
  47. ^Four TED talks every filmmaker should watch,article from IndieWire, 23 September 2013
  48. ^3 Things You Need to Make an Impossible Movie,article from Film School Rejects, 1 July 2013
  49. ^Making an Impossible Film: How Director Martin Villeneuve Brought His Sci-Fi Drama to Life,article from No Film School, 14 June 2013
  50. ^10 talks about the making of movie magic
  51. ^Making the Impossible Film. Martin Villeneuve on MARS ET AVRIL,article from Quiet Earth, 10 June 2013
  52. ^Martin Villeneuve makes the impossible happen,Guestlist, 6 March 2017
  53. ^MARS ET AVRIL - En salles dès le 12 octobre prochain!,news release from Alliance Vivafilm, 23 August 2012
  54. ^Cinéma québécois - Floraison automnale,article fromLe Devoir,25 August 2012
  55. ^abSci-Fi London 2013 Review: MARS ET AVRIL Deserves Greater Attention,Screen Anarchy, 8 May 2013
  56. ^BIFFF 2013 –Mars & Avril:un souffle frais d'outre-Atlantique,Discordance,7 April 2013
  57. ^BIFFF 2013 – Critique deMars & Avril,Sens critique,4 April 2013
  58. ^From WFF to TED Talks: Martin Villeneuve and his Impossible Film,ALUMNI NEWS 28 September 2016
  59. ^Mars et Avrilpage on the MVFF's official site
  60. ^Mars et Avrilreview on the CSIFF's official site
  61. ^Mars et AvrilRelease Info page on IMDb
  62. ^Mars et Avrilin HD on iTunes Canada,19 March 2013
  63. ^Mars et Avril,Directed by Martin Villeneuve,DVD review from Exclaim.ca, 21 March 2013
  64. ^MARS ET AVRIL - DVD,DVD review from PressPlus1, 19 March 2013
  65. ^Mars et Avril(Bande Annonce / Original Trailer Music),19 March 2013
  66. ^abBenoît Charest: How music can set you free,BULB, 2 December 2013
  67. ^Mars et Avrilin HD on Amazon,December 2013
  68. ^Mars & Avrilin HD on iTunes,December 2013
  69. ^Mars & Avrilin HD on Google Play,December 2013
  70. ^Mars et Avrilon GaiamTV,13 September 2013
  71. ^abcSpend the weekend watching the impossible (and beautiful)Mars & Avril,review fromio9,6 December 2013
  72. ^abcA futuristic tale of fantasy and desire,BULB, 2 December 2013
  73. ^Amours futuristes et émois métaphysiques,review fromLe Devoir,13 October 2012
  74. ^Mars et Avril:romance cosmique dans un Montréal futuriste où téléportation et disques vinyles co-existent,review fromNight Life,11 October 2012
  75. ^Une réussite visuelle,review fromLe Journal de Montréal,10 October 2012
  76. ^abMars and April,review fromScreen Daily,13 July 2012
  77. ^Bel accueil pourMars et Avril,article fromLe Journal de Montréal,3 July 2012
  78. ^Mars et Avril,review from eFilmCritic, 11 February 2013
[edit]
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